The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-26
SMOKING AMONG LADIES.
The Habit Becoming More and More
General in America.


General in America.
A recent incidental statement made
by an authority whose opportunity Of
observation leaves no doubt as TO its
truthfulness ,discloscs the fact that the
practice of smoking among American
ladies is becoming more and more
general. The observer who is lady
of the highest standing in New York,
says: "Morc American women smoke
cigarettes, and often cigars, than the
world wots of. Only few mornings
ago sat in the boudoir of one of tho
bcst-known women in New York
society, lady whose name is n
synonym for everything tina; is woman
y and refined to the outside world,
while she smoked cigarette after cigar
cite with the utmost palacidiiy. During
the morning three other ladies dropped
in, and two Of them also produced
dainty cigarette-cases and smoked with
entire composure, eiccting the curls OF
smoke into rings above their heads as
gracefully and perfectly as the most
expert smoker among men could do.
| know myself OF scores of our best New
York. Boston, and Philadelphia ladies'.
all my personal friends, who indulge in
smoking, and whose names. if given TO
the public, would cause astonishment. I"
1t is nSt pleasant 20 contemplate q con-
iition of affairs as the above gives us
excellent reason to believe exists to-
day among our American women.
"Men smoke, and why should not wo-
mene" many have asked. Simply be-
cause there are thousand and one
things which, thought proper in mon.
are entirely unbecoming TO women.
The association of tobacco with re-
fined lady is disagreeablc; it is not so
with the most polished gentlman. 1t
is argued by some that in Spain. France,
and Turkey and other European coun-
tries the women all smoke, and in pub
lie; these same people making this as
sertion have never for themelves seen
the class of women addicted TO this use
of tobacco. In like manner might we
conduct foreigner to places in our
great cities where women can be found
continually smoking, but could such n
visitor return to his native land and
declare in truthfulness that the Ameri-
can lady smokesP We are aware that
in France especially the habit of smok-
ing among women is more general than
in America, but likewise are many 9TH
or habits which American mothers
would not care TO associate with the
lives of their daughters or their lady
friends. If the custom OF smoking
among American ladies is becoming
prevalent, it is one that can not be
otherwise than deeply deplored. No
woman-and we weigh each word in
this statement-can be lady and ad-
dicted to smoking. The argument that
men smoke is no plausible reason for
women doing so, and no one possessed
OF any degree of common sense will
advance such comparison. There are
scores and hundreds of things that can
be properly associated with the more
commonplace nature of man, but when
connected with the delicate and refined
nature Of woman they become widely
dissimilar. Tobacco was intended for
the use of men, and while 1t would be
infinitely better were il not used at all
or used in much lesser quantities than
1t is at present. the cigar or cigarette
is not unbeooming to the most perfect
gentleman. But when employed by
ladies. it is put to use for which it
was never intended. and the cigar in
the mouth of woman becomes her as
much as would a costly flag Of the rich
est satin texture il placed on the be-
grimed mast OF one of the scows that
rid our cities of their superiluous mud
aud filth. Brooklyn Magazine.